Directed by Simon West.

Written by Scott Rosenberg.

Jerry Bruckheimer, along with his late pal Don Simpson (who died of a
drug overdose last year), have produced some of the most successful action
flicks of the last two decades, including Beverly Hills Cop, parts I
and II, Top Gun, Crimson Tide, and The Rock, which together
have grossed over one and a half billion dollars worldwide. It's fitting
that most of his plots involve cops and soldiers, because his movies are
executed like a carefully planned assault on the audience. You do not
simply watch a Bruckheimer movie, you experience it as if you were
meant to take part in any of the various shootouts, arguments, fights, or
explosions that are the staple of his genre.

If you're in the mood to be immersed in and pummeled with entertainment,
you can't go wrong with Bruckheimer, and Con Air is no exception.
Con Air is about as much fun as summer movies get, and is
recommended for anyone disappointed by the lackluster summer openers The
Fifth Element and The Lost World. (The Lost World may be
a box office hit, but I have yet to meet anyone who was impressed with
anything other than the computer-generated dinos.) The amazing thing about
Con Air is that it has two elements rarely seen together in a
full-fledged action flick: an intelligent and well-written script, and
absolutely superb performances from over half a dozen major characters.

Nicholas Cage plays Cameron Poe, an Army Ranger who is sent to prison
for accidentally killing a drunken man who threatens his pregnant wife.
Perhaps the only major plot hole is the lack of a decent explanation for
why Poe does not simply plead self-defense, but I'm willing to accept any
plot element that involves someone getting screwed by the judicial system.
While in prison, Poe decides to hold off meeting his newborn daughter until
after he's released so she won't see him in the company of thieves and
murderers.

After eight years Poe is finally accepted for parole, and is scheduled
for transport on a maximum security airplane that is at the same time
scheduled to populate a new prison with a motley crew of maniacal
criminals. Led by the cunningly resourceful Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John
Malkovich), the criminals take control of the plane, much to the chagrin of
Poe who just wants to get back to his wife and daughter. However, Poe
successfully hides his true identity as a "good" criminal, and manages to
secretly communicate with the authorities on the ground that he is working
on their side. Needless to say, after much madness, mayhem, and several
plane landings and take-offs, he saves the day with the help of U.S.
Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack).

It is not so much the plot of Con Air that makes it interesting,
but the way the script consistently chugs along without a single dull
moment or sleeper scene. There are enough hilarious lines and devious plot
developments to leave you both laughing and sitting on the edge of your
seat for the majority of the movie. There is also a lifetime's worth of
crashes, shootouts, and explosions. Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg should
definitely be credited for covering all of his bases. (In fact, he will be
- I sat in front of his aunt and uncle and afterwards they were swamped
with people hoping to relay a congratulations to him. His aunt and uncle
pointed out that he has a small cameo as the craps dealer in the final
scene of the movie.)

However, most of the credit should go to multitude of stars in the
movie, and probably to the casting directors as well. It is easy to imagine
a horribly-acted version of this movie, and I have to admit that my
expectations weren't high as I walked into the theatre. Nicolas Cage has a
much more impressive presence than he did in The Rock, and his burly
performance in this movie should quell any doubts that people have
expressed about his ability to play Superman in the upcoming Tim Burton
remake. John Cusak is fun to cheer for as the clever and determined U.S.
Marshall. Last but not least, the entire crew of deranged criminals,
including Malkovich, Ving Rhames, and Steve Buscemi, amongst others, are
about the most likable bad guys found in any recent movie.

Con Air might not be The English Patient (although both
have several plane crashes and burn victims), but of course, that is like
comparing a roller coaster to the opera. School is over, the Oscars are a
year away, and big-budget action flicks such as Con Air are what
summer is all about.